Wire drawing and feeding mechanism



Sept. 5, 1967 w. E. CARLSON 3,339,396

WIRE DRAWING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 9, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l 50 i I 32 INVENTOR.

48 WILBUR E. CARLSON 48 44 BY ATTORNEYS p 1967 w. E. CARLSON WIRE DRAWING AND FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1964 iv 9 |I|| IIIHIHl 6mm m \wwm Nm H.|\ f. I I dwv E J mm mm mm om w m o INVENTOR.

BY WlLBUR E. CARLSON ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1967 w. E. CARLSON WIRE DRAWING AND FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 9, 1964 FIG.5

INVENTOR.

WILBUR E. GARLSON ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1967 Filed June 9, 1964 w. E. CA RLSON WIRE DRAWING AND FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

FIG 9 WILBUR CARLSON TM,LEZ@VTW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,339,396 WIRE DRAWING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Wilbur E. Carlson, 17316 Fries Ave.,

Lakewood, Ohio 44107 Filed June 9, 1964, Ser. No. 373,752 16 Claims. (Cl. 72-289) This invention relates in general to a compact apparatus for unreeling rod or wire from a coil or supply reel, moving the wire through a drawing mechanism, for reducing the diameter of the wire, and then moving it expeditiously to another metal forming or working mechanism which may be, for instance, a cold header machine for cutting off measured lengths of the wire and performing various work operations thereon, such as for instance, forming the measured lengths of wire into bolts, screw, etc.

Conventional wire or rod drawing mechanisms adapted for use with other metal Working machines, such as for instance the aforementioned header machine, are usually rather elongated, space consuming mechanisms and therefore complicate production problems in a factory. Moreover, such prior mechanisms generally exert an undue pull on the wire being received by the header machine, resulting in undesirable pull on the conventional feeding rolls of the header or like machine.

The present invention provides a novel wire drawing and feeding mechanism for use with another metal forming machine, such as for instance the aforementioned header machine. The mechanism of the invention requires a minimum of floor space since it is so constructed and arranged as to extend generally vertically as compared to the generally horizontal extension of prior art arrangements of wire drawing mechanisms, and which also effectively feeds the drawn or reduced diameter rod or wire into the associated wire handling machine, such as the aforementioned header machine, with minimum pressure or pull against the header machine feed rolls, thereby aiding the header machine to efiiciently operate in its use of the wire being furnished thereto.

Accordingly, an object of the instant invention is to provide a novel wire drawing and wire feeding or supplying mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel wire drawing and feeding mechanism which is adapted for use with another wire utilizing mechanism or machine, such as for instance a header machine, and which Wire drawing and feeding mechanism occupies a minimum of floor space.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel wire drawing and feeding mechanism which takes rod or wire from preferably a coil of the wire mounted upon a base, and draws it by means of a rotatable draw drum through a reducing die, for reducing the diameter of the rod from that of the coil, to the desired diameter of the wire, and which then passes or moves the wire generally vertically upwardly to form a supply loop of the wire, for effectively feeding such wire without undue pressure into an associate-d wire handling machine, such as for instance a header machine, and wherein the mechanism includes means for effectively maintaining a predetermined tension in the wire as it is wound about said draw drum. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the latter mentioned type which includes means thereon for starting and stopping the feeding of the wire to the associated header machine, depending upon the size of supply loop of the wire that is available for feeding to the header machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel wire drawing and feeding mechanism for drawing rod or wire down from a starting diameter to a desired finished diameter, and for then feeding it to an associated 3,339,396 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 wire utilizing machine, such as for instance a header machine, which may cut the wire being fed thereto into predetermined lengths, for manufacture into finished products such as for instance screws, bolts, nuts, etc., and wherein said wire'drawing and feeding mechanism comprises a machine occupying a minimum of floor space, with most of the operations being accomplished in a generally vertical direction, for producing a highly compact machine, and wherein the wire is taken off from a coil thereof and then drawn generally vertically through a die by means of a rotatable draw drum, and wherein the wire is then passed vertically upwardly and maintained in generally tensioned condition on the drum by means of a pair of rotatable, grooved pulleys which frictionally engage the wire, and are adapted for rotation of a slightly greater speed than the draw drum surface speed, so that the wire looped about the draw drum is maintained tight thereon, and wherein the wire is then passed further upwardly and through a guide member, and then vertically downwardly through guide rolls, to form a supply loop of the wire, for feeding into the wire handling or utilizing machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational, somewhat diagrammatic illustration of the wire drawing and feeding mechanism of the invention, feeding the Wire produced into an associated machine, such as for instance a header machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the wire drawing and feeding mechanism shown in FIG. 1, illustrating in greater detail the drawing and feeding of the wire; certain parts have been eliminated from the FIG. 2 showing in the interest of simplicity;

FIG. 3 is a front end view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2, and taken generally from the left hand side thereof;

FIG. 4 is a generally top plan view of the FIG. 2 mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a view generally similar to FIG. 2, but showing a modification of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the FIG. 5 mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the winding or drawing drum showing the sloped shoulder thereon which is adapted to urge the loops of wire about the drum into abutting relation;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the winding drum having bracket means associated therewith to restrict lateral movement of the loops of wire about the drum and prevent the movement of the loops off the end of the drum;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of the bracket means of FIG. 8 and its preferred relationship to the drawing drum.

Referring now again to the drawings, there is diagrammatically illustrated at FIG. 1 a header machine 10 which is receiving a continuous strand of wire stock S into the power driven feed rolls 11 thereof, for producing parts from the wire, such as machine bolts, screws, etc.

, The wire drawing and feeding mechanism 12 with which the instant invention is particularly concerned is shown as comprising a portable unit having a base or support 14 provided with means 16 (e.g., wheels) for moving the unit 12 into the desired location or position in connection with the machine with which it is to be used. Any suitable means may be provided for maintaining the mechanism 12 in stationary condition when it has been properly oriented with respect to machine 10. The drawing and feeding mechanism 12 also preferably comprises a support 18 for mounting a coil 20 of rod or wire thereon which coil of wire may be rotatable or turnable in the embodiment illustrated, for movement of the strand S of the coil through the drawing die 22 mounted on the unit 12. Support 18 may include pivotal retaining means 23 for readily replacing the stock coil of wire on support 18 and retaining it thereon. Support 18 may also be swingable about a generally vertical axis for adjusting the feed position of the coil 20, and as by means of bracket 23a.

The strand S may extend first upwardly to a pulley 24 rotatably mounted on preferably horizontally adjustable or swingable arm 24a (FIG. 1) and then across to a rotatable pulley 25, and then downwardly to the aforementioned conventional drawing die 22, where the cross sectional area of the rod or wire is reduced down to the desired size called for by the header machine 10. Die 22 is preferably changeable so that any selected size of wire can be produced.

The rod or wire from coil 20 is pulled through die 22 by means of the draw drum 26, rotatably mounted on the support 14 and driven as by means of an electric motor 28. Motor 28 may be connected to drum 26 by means of a variable speed drive including a conventional variable speed disc and belt assembly 28a operatively connected to a gear reduction assembly 28b which in turn may be drivingly coupled to the shaft 26a of the drum. Disc and belt assembly 280 may be controlled by manual rotor 29 to selectively control the speed of the drum 26.

As can be seen, the wire coming from die 22 is substantially vertically tangential to the exterior surface of the drum. The strand S is preferably looped at least seven or more times about the outer periphery of the drum and then passes vertically upwardly through a pair of rotatable pulleys 30, 32 which receive the wire therebetween, and frictionally grip the same to maintain a tension on the wire so as to keep the wire loops extending about the draw drum 26 tightly wound about the drum. Thus, a continuous and steady pull is maintained on the wire as it is pulled through the draw die 22, during rotation of the drum 26.

The pulleys 30, 32 are driven at a speed slightly greater than the surface speed of the draw drum 26, and thus such pulleys frictionally slip with respect to the wire and maintain a steady pull on the wire so as to retain the wire looped about the draw drum in tight relationship, as the drum rotates.

From the friction pulleys 30, 32, the wire may be directed further upwardly to pass through a guide member 36, which as shown in FIG. 3 may be of a closed vertically elongated loop configuration. The wire passes through the loop element or guide member 36 and then downwardly through idler guide rolls 38 from which it may be directed into the aforementioned feed rolls 11 of the wire working machine 10.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the tensioning pulleys 30, 32 are each rotatably mounted on a respective shaft 44, 44a, which shafts are operatively connected to associated toothed pinion gears 46, 4611, the latter being disposed in meshing relationship. The tensioning pulleys 30, 32 are maintained in a driven condition with respect to the respective shaft 44, 44a, by an associated spring 48 and abutment washer or friction member 48a, and threaded nut members 48b, which can be tightened or loosened to increase or decrease the frictional coaction between the tensioning pulleys 30, 32 and the back-up portions 50 formed integral with the respective shaft 44, 44a.

Gear 46 is disposed in meshing relationship with rotatable gear member 52, which in turn is disposed in meshing relationship with ring gear 54 (FIGS. 1 and 4) secured to the draw drum 26. It will be seen therefore that upon rotation of the draw drum 26 by means of its motor unit 28, the ring gear 54 on the draw drum will rotate gear 52 which in turn rotates gear 46, which in turn rotates gear 46a, thereby turning the tensioning pulleys 30, 32, and maintaining the coils of wire wrapped about the draw drum 26 in tight relationship with the drum. By tightening or loosening up on the nut members 48b, the pulley members 30, 32 can either be frictionally maintained in positive coaction with the back-up portions 50 of the respective shaft 44, 44a or upon backing off of the nuts a sufficient amount, slippage can occur between the pulley members 30, 32 and their drive shafts 44, 44a.

It will be seen that the wire or rod is pulled off the coil 20 and then passed diagonally and over the pulleys 24, 25 so that the wire can be directed through the drawing die 22 in generally vertical condition, such an arrangement providing a highly compact mechanism, taking up a minimum of floor space in connection with the header machine 10.

After the wire passes through the tensioning pulleys 30, 32, it is looped as at 60, passing through guide member 36 and rolls 38, to provide a sufficiently variable supply of wire for the associated wire utilizing machine (e.g., as illustrated the header machine). Now in the event that the header machine 10 is not utilizing the wire stock S being fed thereto, at the rate of which it is being drawn and provided for by the unit 12, the supply loop 60 of wire will get progressively larger whereupon, it is adapted to actuate an upper limit switch 62 mounted on unit 12 and which is connected into the control circuitry of electric motor 28 in the conventional manner. Switch 62 when actuated will stop the electric motor and thereby stop enlargement of the supply loop.

As the header machine uses up the wire supply of the loop 60, the latter will be progressively diminished in size and therefore is adapted to actuate a limit switch 64 which will reactivate the circuit of electric motor 28, starting the motor and causing the draw drum 26 to rotate once more and again supply wire to the loop 60. The actual circuitry for starting and stopping the electric motor may be conventional, well known in the electrical motor art, and thus is not illustrated here.

The elongated guide slot 36 forms a lateral support for the wire or rod and prevents it from falling sideways after its passage through the tensioning pulleys 30, 32.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is shown another embodiment. In this embodiment there is provided an overhead conveyor 70 having rotatable rollers 72 mounted thereon, which receives the wire from coil 20 and moves it up and diagonally over to a drawing die 22. Conveyor 70 has raised side flanges 73 for preventing disengagement of the wire and the conveyor mechanism. After being pulled through drawing die 22, the wire S is tightly looped a number of times (say for instance seven times) about the drawing or winding drum 26, which is rotatably mounted on the support or platform 14. In order to maintain the loops of wire about the winding drum 26 in tight condition as the drum rotates to thereby prevent slippage between the wire and the drum, the wire is strung about a tensioning device 76, after which it is directed in the direction of the associated machine 10 which is to utilize the wire stock.

The tensioning device 76 comprises an arm 78 pivoted as at 78a to the support 14 and having an idler pulley 78b rotatably mounted thereon, which pulley coacts with the wire in maintaining the latter in tensioned condition on the drum 26. Spring members 80 are provided coacting between the arm 78 and the framework 81 of the platform, for urging the arm 78 and pulley 78b into tensioning relation with the wire.

The drum may be driven by a variable speed drive similarly to the first described embodiment, including a rotatable control handle 29 for manually regulating the speed of the draw drum. It will be seen here again, that the wire is moved generally vertically and drawn or reduced in size and then is directed toward the associated machine or header machine, and with such a compact arrangement occupying a minimum of floor space.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown in greater detail the preferred arrangement of draw drum 26. Such drum embodies sloping end shoulder 84 which first engages the wire coming out of draw die 22, and urges the loops of Wire about drum 26 into abutting relation, thus preventing one loop of the wire from overlapping an adjacent loop and foulding up the winding operation. Thus the pulling pressure of the drum on the wire continually urges the latter down the incline of the shoulder toward the end of the drum where the wire is being taken 01$ for feeding to the associated wire using mechanism 10.

FIG. 8 illustrates a draw drum having retaining bracket means 86 associated therewith for insuring that the wire looped about the draw drum remains in adjacent untangled condition in the event the tension on the wire is relaxed. Such bracket means 86 in the embodiment illustrated comprises a cylindrical-like member 88 secured to an L-shaped arm 90 which in turn is pivoted to a support, as by means of threaded bolt 92. A tab 94 is adjustably connected to the outer end of cylindrical member 88, as by means of threaded nut 96. Tab 94 overlaps the outer or non-shouldered end of drum 26 and acts to prevent the loops of wire from running off the end of the drum. By loosening up on nut 96 and pivoting tab 94, any desired number of loops of wire or all of the loops of wire can be readily removed from the outer end of the drum. By loosening bolt 92, unit 86 may be readily pivoted out of confronting relation with the drum. While in FIG. 9 of the drawings considerable spacing has been illustrated between the coils of wire S wound about drum 26 and the confronting member 88, in actual practice this spacing is relatively small and preferably in the order of about of an inch. In any event, mechanism 86 tends to assure even contact and pressure by the loops of wire reeved about drum 26 during rotation of the latter. Any suitable means (e.g., 98) may be provided for adjusting the pivoted position of mechanism 86 with respect to the drum so as to readily provide for materially different sizes or diameters of wire. While a pair of bracket means 86 is shown associated with the draw drum in FIG. 8, only one of such bracket means might be used.

From the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings it will be seen that the invention provides a novel wire drawing and feeding mechanism for use particularly in connection with machines utilizing the wire, and for instance a header machine. The mechanism requires a minimum of floor space and yet is effective to supply a steady supply of wire to the header machine or the like, with minimum pressure or pull against the header machine feed rolls. It will also be seen that the invention provides a wire drawing and feeding mechanism of the above type which is built or oriented vertically into a compact structure, and which will effectively draw rod or wire from a starting size down to a desired finished size without slackening in pulling of the wire through a drawing die.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a wire drawing and feeding mechanism for use with a wire working machine comprising, a support member, drum means rotatably mounted on said support member, power means for rotating said drum means, die drawing means disposed above said drum means, said drum means being adapted to pull wire vertically downwardly through said die drawing means as the wire is tightly wound onto said drum means, rotatable friction means adapted for maintaining tention on said wire as it is paid ofl? therefrom and for forming an extended supply loop in said wire, said supply loop being formed subsequent to tension of said wire and prior to movement to an associated wire working machine.

2. In a mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rotatable friction means comprises a pair of op- 6 positely disposed rotatable members adapted to receive the wire therebetween, means for driving said rotatable members in opposite directions and at a greater speed than the surface speed of said drum means for maintaining tension on the wire as it is paid onto and off drum means.

3. In a mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rotatable friction means comprises a pair of rotatable driven members for tensioning said wire in a generally vertical direction away from said drum means, and another pair of rotatable idler members for guiding said wire in a generally vertical direction toward said drum means, whereby said extended supply loop is disposed in a generally vertical oriented position with respect to said support member and has a generally inverted U-shaped configuration facing said drum means.

4. In a mechanism in accordance with claim 3, including guide slot means associated with said support member above said drum means adapted to guide therethrough an upper portion of said extended supply loop, and control means associated with said guide slot means for controlling vertical movement of the said upper portion of the said supply loop passing through said guide slot means.

5. In a mechanism in accordance with claim 1, including overhead conveyor means supported above said die drawing means, supply coil means mounted on said support member laterally of said drum means, and said conveyor means adapted to guide wire vertical upwardly from said supply coil means, laterally away from said supply coil means toward said drum means and then vertically downwardly in axial alignment with said die drawing means.

6. In a mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a pair of limit switches in circuit with said drum means, one of said switches being adapted to stop rotatable movement of said drum means upon enlargement of the size of said supply loop, and the other of said switches being adapted to start rotation of said drum means upon reduction in the size of said supply loop.

7. In a mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rotatable friction means comprises a pair of oppositely disposed rotatable members adapted to. receive wire in engaged relation therebetween, a gear means operably connected to each of said rotatable members for rotating the members in opposite directions relative to one another, a driven gear means operably connected to said drum means, and intermediate gear means disposed for meshing engagement between a gear means operably connected to one of the rotatable members and the driven gear means of said drum means for driving said rotatable members at a greater speed than the surface speed of said drum means upon rotation of said drum means.

8. In a mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rotatable friction means comprises an arm pivotally connected at one end to said support member, a rotatable member mounted adjacent the other end of said arm for supporting the wire in engaged relation thereabout, and resilient means operably connected to said arm for tensioning said wire in a laterally outward direction away from said drum means, whereby said extended supply loop is disposed in a generally horizontally oriented position with respect to said support member and has a generally inverted U-shaped configuration facing the said drum means.

9. In a mechanism in accordance with claim 8, including overhead conveyor means supported above said die drawing means, supply coil means mounted on said support member laterally of said drum means, said conveyor means being arcuate, in side elevation, extending angularly upwardly and inwardly from said coil means and angularly downwardly and inwardly toward said die drawing means, said conveyor means being adapted to guide the wire generally vertically upwardly from said coil means, arcuately in a general direction from said coil means toward said drum means, and then vertically downwardly in axial alignment with said die drawing means.

10. In a mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said die drawing means is disposed above and in vertical alignment with one end of said drum means, said drum means being disposed for rotational movement about a horizontal axis, said last-mentioned end of the drum means including an annular shoulder sloping inwardly for urging the turns of the wire wound thereon into axially engaged relationship for movement off the other end of said drum means.

11. In a wire drawing and feeding mechanism for use with a metal working machine, such as a header or the like, comprising, a horizontally disposed base, a drum mounted on the base for rotation about a horizontal axis adapted to receive wire in wound relation from a supply source, drive means for rotating said drum, die drawing means having a reduction die therein supported on said base above said drum, said reduction die being vertically oriented with respect to said base, conveyor means supported above said die drawing means for conveying wire in overhead relation outwardly from said supply source and vertically downwardly to the reduction die of the die drawing means, said drum being adapted to pull wire vertically downwardly through the reduction die of said die drawing means as the wire is paid onto said drum, rotatable means adapted for friction engagement with the wire adapted at greater speed than the surface of said drum for moving said wire vertically upwardly away from said base and maintaining tension on the wire as it is paid-off said drum, and guide means adapted for frictional engagement with said wire for providing an extended supply loop in said wire prior to movement of the same into the associated metal working machine.

12. In a method for continuously drawing and feeding metal stock into a metal working means comprising, moving the stock generally vertically upwardly and then downwardly from a supply source, paying the vertically downwardly directed stock onto a rotatable means, and reducing the cross-sectional area of the stock by pulling the same through a reduction means by rotation of said rotatable means, paying the stock, under tension, in a generally vertical direction upwardly from said rotatable means for maintaining the stock paid onto said rotatable means under tension, forming an extended supply loop in said stock, and feeding said extended supply loop in a general horizontal direction into said associated metal working machine.

13. In a method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said extended supply loop is of a generally inverted U- shaped configuration, and including controlling the size of said supply loop in relation to rotation of said rotatable means.

14. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 including retainer means disposed in confronting relation to the wire engaging surface of said drum, means movably mounting said retainer means with respect to said drum, and means on said retainer means overlapping the associated end of the drum to prevent movement of wire ofl? said drum end.

15. A mechanism in accordance with claim 14 wherein said retainer means comprises a convex surface disposed in confronting relation to the drum.

16. A mechanism in accordance with claim 14 wherein said overlapping means is pivotally mounted on said retainer means for movement out of overlapping relation to said drum end, and means for locking said overlapping means in selected position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,501,305 7/1924 Boley 72280 1,599,393 9/1926 Blount 72289 1,843,666 2/1932 Evans 172280 1,918,237 7/1933 Alden 72280 2,928,527 3/ 1960 Frankenfield 72-289 3,133,629 5/1964 Bruestle 72280 3,238,758 3/1966 Ott 72289 3,280,611 10/1966 Lathom et a1. 72289 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A WIRE DRAWING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR USE WITH A WIRE WORKING MACHINE COMPRISING, A SUPPORT MEMBER, DRUM MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, POWER MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUM MEANS, DIE DRAWING MEANS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID DRUM MEANS, SAID DRUM MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO PULL WIRE VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID DIE DRAWING MEANS AS THE WIRE IS TIGHTLY WOUND ONTO SAID DRUM MEANS, ROTATABLE FRICTION MEANS ADAPTED FOR MAINTAINING TENTION ON SAID WIRE AS IT IS PAID OFF THEREFROM AND FOR FORMING AN EXTENDED SUPPLY LOOP IN SAID WIRE, SAID SUPPLY LOOP BEING FORMED SUBSEQUENT TO TENSION OF SAID WIRE AND PRIOR TO MOVEMENT TO AN ASSOCIATED WIRE WORKING MACHINE. 